Antidepressant Medication Adverse Reactions Such as Body Weight, Blood Pressure Variations Range by Drug

- A extensive new research determined that the unwanted effects of antidepressants differ substantially by drug.
- Some pharmaceuticals resulted in decreased mass, whereas other medications caused weight gain.
- Heart rate and BP also varied significantly between drugs.
- Patients experiencing persistent, serious, or worrisome adverse reactions must consult a physician.
Recent research has found that antidepressant unwanted effects may be more diverse than once assumed.
The large-scale study, issued on the 21st of October, analyzed the impact of depression treatments on over 58,000 individuals within the initial 60 days of commencing therapy.
These investigators studied 151 investigations of 30 drugs typically used to manage major depression. Although not all individuals experiences unwanted effects, several of the most frequent observed in the investigation were variations in weight, BP, and metabolic markers.
There were significant disparities among antidepressant drugs. For example, an two-month course of one medication was connected with an typical weight loss of around 2.4 kilograms (roughly 5.3 pounds), while maprotiline individuals gained close to 2 kg in the identical duration.
There were also, significant fluctuations in cardiovascular activity: one antidepressant tended to reduce cardiac rhythm, whereas nortriptyline increased it, producing a disparity of approximately 21 BPM among the two medications. Blood pressure varied also, with an 11 mmHg variation noted between one drug and another medication.
Depression Drug Side Effects Include a Wide Spectrum
Medical experts noted that the research's conclusions are not novel or surprising to psychiatric specialists.
"It has long been understood that different depression drugs differ in their effects on weight, BP, and other metabolic measures," a expert explained.
"However, what is significant about this study is the thorough, comparative assessment of these disparities among a broad array of bodily measurements utilizing findings from in excess of 58,000 subjects," this professional added.
This investigation offers strong evidence of the magnitude of unwanted effects, some of which are more common than others. Common depression drug adverse reactions may include:
- gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, bowel issues, irregularity)
- intimacy issues (decreased libido, inability to orgasm)
- body weight fluctuations (addition or decrease, depending on the drug)
- rest issues (insomnia or sedation)
- dry mouth, perspiration, head pain
At the same time, less frequent but medically important unwanted effects may include:
- elevations in blood pressure or heart rate (especially with SNRIs and some tricyclic antidepressants)
- hyponatremia (particularly in senior patients, with SSRIs and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
- elevated hepatic parameters
- Corrected QT interval extension (chance of arrhythmia, especially with citalopram and some tricyclics)
- emotional blunting or indifference
"One thing to note in this context is that there are multiple different classes of antidepressant medications, which lead to the different adverse drug reactions," a different professional explained.
"Additionally, antidepressant medications can influence each person variably, and adverse reactions can vary according to the particular pharmaceutical, dosage, and personal considerations including body chemistry or simultaneous health issues."
Although several adverse reactions, including fluctuations in rest, appetite, or vitality, are reasonably typical and commonly get better as time passes, others may be less typical or longer-lasting.
Talk with Your Healthcare Provider Concerning Intense Unwanted Effects
Depression drug unwanted effects may range in seriousness, which could justify a modification in your drug.
"A modification in antidepressant may be warranted if the individual encounters continuing or unbearable side effects that fail to enhance with time or supportive measures," a specialist said.
"Furthermore, if there is an emergence of new medical issues that may be aggravated by the current medication, for example elevated BP, irregular heartbeat, or substantial increased body weight."
Individuals may additionally consider speaking with your physician concerning any absence of meaningful progress in depressive or anxiety-related signs subsequent to an sufficient testing period. An sufficient trial period is usually 4–8 weeks' time at a therapeutic amount.
Individual choice is additionally significant. Certain people may choose to avoid specific unwanted effects, like sexual dysfunction or {weight gain|increased body weight|mass addition